Bare Acts of India
A bare Act is a statute in its plainest form — the text as enacted, with no commentary wrapped around it. It is what a court actually applies, which is why reading it directly is worth the effort even when a summary is easier.
EasyActs.in publishes 13,367 Acts this way: 1,098 Central and 12,269 State Acts across 38 states and union territories, each with the official government PDF it came from.
How to read a bare Act
Start with the definitions
Almost every Act defines its own terms near the beginning, and those definitions control how every later section applies. A word that looks ordinary often has a narrower statutory meaning.
Read the section, then the proviso, then the exception
A proviso narrows the rule immediately before it. An exception removes something from the rule entirely. Stopping at the main clause is the most common way to misread a provision.
Mind how the Act is numbered
Sections may be grouped into Chapters or Parts, and inserted provisions carry letters — 149A sits between 149 and 150. Some Acts, like the Code of Civil Procedure, number their Sections and their Orders separately.
Schedules and illustrations are part of the law
A Schedule at the end of an Act carries operative content, not appendix material. Illustrations in older Acts show how a section is meant to apply.
Check that the text is current
Acts change by amendment, and amending Acts are separate statutes. Before relying on any provision, confirm whether it has since been substituted, inserted or omitted.
Read the bare text before the commentary
Commentaries and summaries are interpretations. They are useful, but the statutory words are what a court applies — so it is worth forming your own reading of the section first.
Frequently looked up Acts
A starting point, not a reading list — the full library is searchable.
- The Constitution of India
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
- Indian Penal Code, 1860
- Indian Contract Act, 1872
- Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
- Transfer of Property Act, 1882
- Income Tax Act, 1961
- Limitation Act, 1963
Common questions
What is a bare Act?
A bare Act is the text of a statute exactly as enacted by Parliament or a State Legislature, without commentary, case notes or explanation. “Bare” means stripped of everything except the law itself.
Is a bare Act the same as the law in force today?
Not automatically. A bare Act reflects the statute as amended up to a particular point. Later amendments change the text, so the printing or edition matters — always check the amendment position of the specific provision.
Are bare Acts free to read?
Yes. Indian legislation is public. Publishers sell printed editions, and some add commentary, but the statutory text itself is not restricted — every Act on this site is free to read in full.
Where does the text on this site come from?
From the official sources: India Code for Central legislation and the State legislative departments for State Acts. Each Act page shows the government PDF it was extracted from, so the text can be checked against the original.
Last updated 14 September 2026. The text published here is reproduced from official government sources for reference. It is not legal advice — for the authoritative position on any provision, check the Gazette and consult a qualified lawyer.